Victoria Azarenka of Belarus booed at Wimbledon after loss to Elena Svitolina of Ukraine
1 year, 5 months ago

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus booed at Wimbledon after loss to Elena Svitolina of Ukraine

Associated Press  

WIMBLEDON, England — Victoria Azarenka said it “wasn’t fair” that she was booed at Wimbledon after her loss to Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina on Sunday. Azarenka, who’s from Belarus, had just lost a third-set tiebreaker and — knowing that Svitolina does not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players after matches in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — walked directly to the umpire to shake hands. What can I do?” It wasn’t clear if fans thought Azarenka snubbed Svitolina, but the Belarusian shook her head as she walked off and banged her hands or fists together over her head. So I think this is the right way to do.” The 33-year-old Azarenka, who moved from Belarus to the United States as a teenager, said she’s always had a good relationship with Svitolina.

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History of this topic

Ukrainian teen criticised for shaking Russian player's hand at Australian Open
11 months ago

Ukrainian teen criticised for shaking Russian player's hand at Australian Open

New Indian Express  

MELBOURNE: Top Ukrainian junior Yelyzaveta Kotliar said she was "deeply sorry" after her tennis federation criticised the 16-year-old for shaking the hand of a Russian opponent at the Australian Open. The Ukraine Tennis Federation called it an "unpleasant incident", reiterating its position that "Ukrainian tennis players not hold handshakes with representatives of aggressor countries". "Our leading players have been informed …

Tennis fans in Washinton Open are warned that Ukraine’s Svitolina and Belarus’ Azarenka won’t shake hands
1 year, 4 months ago

Tennis fans in Washinton Open are warned that Ukraine’s Svitolina and Belarus’ Azarenka won’t shake hands

The Hindu  

Spectators at the DC Open were told before Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina defeated Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka 7-6, 6-4 on Monday night that the players would not shake hands when their first-round match ended. In earlier action on Day 1 at the first combined ATP-WTA 500 event, defending champion Liudmila Samsonova stretched her winning streak in Washington to six matches by beating …

Aryna Sabalenka wants shield from ‘hate’ after Victoria Azarenka booing at Wimbledon
1 year, 5 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka wants shield from ‘hate’ after Victoria Azarenka booing at Wimbledon

Firstpost  

Victoria Azarenka, from Belarus, was booed off-court following her defeat by Ukraine’s Svitolina at Wimbledon on Sunday. Earlier on Monday, Aryna Sabalenka backed Elina Svitolina’s call for officials to respond to help shield players from “so much hate”. “If people are going to be focusing only on handshakes or the crowd, quite adrunk crowd, booing in the end, that’s a …

WTA makes statement on Wimbledon booing episode after Victoria Azarenka blasts 'drunk' crowd
1 year, 5 months ago

WTA makes statement on Wimbledon booing episode after Victoria Azarenka blasts 'drunk' crowd

Hindustan Times  

Day after Wimbledon chief spoke up on the unfortunate booing incident against Victoria Azarenka on Court 1 on Sunday night for not shaking hands with Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, the Women's Tennis Association has now broken silence on the matter as they released a statement. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus leaves the court after being defeated by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in …

Watch: Russian star snubs handshake with umpire after argument over 'Code violation' penalty during Wimbledon loss
1 year, 5 months ago

Watch: Russian star snubs handshake with umpire after argument over 'Code violation' penalty during Wimbledon loss

Hindustan Times  

16-year-old Mirra Andreeva was touted to pull of a Coco Gauff at the Wimbledon as she stood a set away from becoming the youngest female player to reach the quarter-finals since Anna Kournikova back in 1997. The Russian teen sensation, who has been a revelation on WTA tour for over a last few months, was on the verge of scripting …

Wimbledon chief breaks silence on Victoria Azarenka episode, issues sharp warning they 'can't control' booing
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon chief breaks silence on Victoria Azarenka episode, issues sharp warning they 'can't control' booing

Hindustan Times  

It was a disappointing end to a riveting clash on Court 1 on Sunday night between Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka as the former world no.1 was booed off the court leaving her disgruntled. It was a dramatic clash wth Svitolina claiming her first ever career win against Azarenka after fight back twice in the three-setter tie to reach the …

Wimbledon 2023: Victoria Azarenka blasts 'unfair' crowd after being booed off court
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2023: Victoria Azarenka blasts 'unfair' crowd after being booed off court

Firstpost  

Victoria Azarenka walked off Court 1 to the sound of boos after the Belarusian and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina didn’t shake hands. Victoria Azarenka called the Wimbledon crowd “unfair” and “drunk” after she was booed off Court 1 following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in a politically charged clash. As has become a common feature, Svitolina did not shake hands with …

Victoria Azarenka Blasts 'Unfair' and 'Drunk' Wimbledon Crowd After Being Booed
1 year, 5 months ago

Victoria Azarenka Blasts 'Unfair' and 'Drunk' Wimbledon Crowd After Being Booed

News 18  

Victoria Azarenka blasted the Wimbledon crowd as “unfair” and “drunk” after she was booed off Centre Court following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in a politically charged clash on Sunday. Ukraine’s Svitolina came through 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 after two hours and 46 minutes of thrilling shotmaking on Court One to set up a quarter-final clash with world number one Iga …

Wimbledon 2023: Azarenka booed off court for failing to offer Svitolina obligatory handshake
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2023: Azarenka booed off court for failing to offer Svitolina obligatory handshake

The Hindu  

Win or lose, Victoria Azarenka knew there would be no handshake offered by Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina at the end of Sunday’s Wimbledon contest that had been billed as the ‘battle of the mums’. Calling the reaction “unfair”, Azarenka did not want to make a big deal of it, realising that perhaps the crowd were not aware as to why …

Wimbledon 2023: Svitolina comes out on top in blockbuster battle with Azarenka
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2023: Svitolina comes out on top in blockbuster battle with Azarenka

The Hindu  

It turned out to be the mother of all battles and Victoria Azarenka produced some telling blows in an electrifying contest but in the end she lacked the chutzpah to prevent Elina Svitolina from securing a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. READ:Swiatek comes back to beat Belinda Bencic and reach the quarterfinals Bizarrely, the crowd booed Azarenka as she left …

‘You know I’m not Russian, right?’: Victoria Azarenka left confused as reporter mixes up her nationality in Wimbledon
1 year, 5 months ago

‘You know I’m not Russian, right?’: Victoria Azarenka left confused as reporter mixes up her nationality in Wimbledon

Hindustan Times  

Opening day of Wimbledon 2023 saw former grand slam champions take to the courts to put on a show, and amongst them was Belarusian former world number one Victoria Azarenka. Belarusian athletes were banned from Wimbledon 2022, including Azarenka and her compatriot Aryna Sabalenka, due to their role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Slightly taken aback, Azarenka answered “You …

Russians and Belarusians back at Wimbledon as war in Ukraine continues
1 year, 5 months ago

Russians and Belarusians back at Wimbledon as war in Ukraine continues

Associated Press  

WIMBLEDON, England — When Victoria Azarenka walked into Court 15 on Monday morning for her first Wimbledon match in two years, she was greeted by polite clapping. That’s because players from Russia and Belarus are back competing at Wimbledon a year after they were barred by the All England Club because of the invasion of Ukraine — and, in a …

Aryna Sabalenka denouncing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the French Open came from being pressured, and is fraught with danger
1 year, 6 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka denouncing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the French Open came from being pressured, and is fraught with danger

ABC  

Aryna Sabalenka has been on the end of a thrashing she usually reserves for on-court opponents as the tennis media and Ukrainian players demanded for months the 25-year-old Australian Open champion denounce the war in Ukraine. Not only did Sabalenka say she does not support the war, she also hit out against Belarusian strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally …

Belarus’ Sabalenka waits for a handshake from Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at French Open, meets media
1 year, 6 months ago

Belarus’ Sabalenka waits for a handshake from Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at French Open, meets media

Associated Press  

PARIS — Aryna Sabalenka smacked a forehand winner to reach the French Open semifinals for the first time, then strode forward. Although not, apparently, obvious to the second-seeded Sabalenka in that moment; she explained — while speaking with the media after avoiding news conferences after the preceding two contests — that she went to the net out of “instinct.” Nor, …

Aryna Sabalenka skips post-match press conference, to avoid questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka skips post-match press conference, to avoid questions about Ukraine war

ABC  

Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has refused to do an official post-match press conference after a French Open match, claiming she "did not feel safe" when previously questioned about the war in Ukraine. Key points: Aryna Sabalenka said organisers supported her decision not to undertake traditional press duties Belarus is a key military ally of Russia in the conflict The …

French Open lets Belarus’ Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open lets Belarus’ Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

Associated Press  

PARIS — Two years after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open when she was fined, then threatened with disqualification, for skipping news conferences, another top tennis player — No. Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, didn’t appear at a news conference Friday after reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over …

French Open lets Belarus' Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open lets Belarus' Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two years after Naomi Osaka …

French Open lets Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open lets Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

Hindustan Times  

Two years after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open when she was fined, then threatened with disqualification, for skipping news conferences, another top tennis player — No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion — was allowed to avoid the traditional postmatch session open to all accredited journalists and instead speak Friday with what was described as a …

Ukraine’s Kostyuk booed at French Open after no handshake with Belarus’ Sabalenka because of war
1 year, 6 months ago

Ukraine’s Kostyuk booed at French Open after no handshake with Belarus’ Sabalenka because of war

Associated Press  

PARIS — Unable to sleep the night before her first-round match at the French Open against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, the Grand Slam tournament’s No. I think I’m better than before, and I don’t think it affects me as much on a daily basis, but yeah, it’s just — I don’t know,” Kostyuk said, shaking her head. Sabalenka called Sunday …

Tennis should have banned Russian, Belarusian players: Swiatek
1 year, 8 months ago

Tennis should have banned Russian, Belarusian players: Swiatek

The Hindu  

Tennis missed an opportunity to send a strong message to Moscow by failing to impose a blanket ban on players from Russia and its ally Belarus after the invasion of Ukraine, world number one Iga Swiatek said. Wimbledon banned players from the two countries last year after the invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”, but said in March …

Wimbledon to accept Russian and Belarusian players as ‘neutral’ athletes
1 year, 8 months ago

Wimbledon to accept Russian and Belarusian players as ‘neutral’ athletes

The Hindu  

Wimbledon will allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete at the grasscourt Grand Slam as ‘neutrals’ this year under certain conditions, having banned players from the two countries last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, this year’s conditions include prohibiting “expressions of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”, which Moscow calls a special military operation, and prohibiting entry by …

'No Reply From WTA Following Request for Meeting', Says Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk Amid Rising Tensions
1 year, 9 months ago

'No Reply From WTA Following Request for Meeting', Says Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk Amid Rising Tensions

News 18  

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk says the WTA Tour has ignored a request for a meeting with players from the war-torn nation in the latest signs of the conflict-related tensions in women’s tennis. Tsurenko’s coach, Nikita Vlasov, has been highly critical of the WTA in comments reported by Ukrainian websites and world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland has called for more …

Aryna Sabalenka 'feels bad' for Ukrainian players amid war tensions
1 year, 9 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka 'feels bad' for Ukrainian players amid war tensions

Firstpost  

Sabalenka said she felt the WTA had been even handed in dealing with players from all countries. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to stir tension in the tennis world, and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka said Friday that it’s not only Ukrainian players who are feeling the strain. “Of course it’s a lot of tension between us,” Australian Open champion Sabalenka said …

No handshake after Ukraine, Belarus players meet at US Open
2 years, 3 months ago

No handshake after Ukraine, Belarus players meet at US Open

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — A Ukrainian player declined to shake hands with Victoria Azarenka after the three-time U.S. Open runner-up from Belarus beat her at Flushing Meadows on Thursday. “It wasn’t a personal match for me because it was Vika specifically, but overall it was not just a casual match that I play in a tournament.” Asked about the traditional handshake …

Belarus' VIctoria Azarenka dropped from Ukraine exhibition at US Open
2 years, 4 months ago

Belarus' VIctoria Azarenka dropped from Ukraine exhibition at US Open

Hindustan Times  

Two-time major champion and former No 1 Victoria Azarenka was dropped Wednesday from a pre-US Open exhibition event raising money for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. At least one Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk, questioned having a Belarusian player participate in the US Tennis Association's "Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition," scheduled for Wednesday night in Louis Armstrong Stadium at Flushing Meadows. …

US Open 2022: Belarus star Victoria Azarenka axed from exhibition event for Ukraine’s benefit
2 years, 4 months ago

US Open 2022: Belarus star Victoria Azarenka axed from exhibition event for Ukraine’s benefit

Firstpost  

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, ranked 70 in the world, claimed recently that she turned down the chance to play in Wednesday’s event in protest at the presence of Victoria Azarenka. Former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus was Wednesday axed from a planned US Open exhibition event aimed at raising money for war-torn Ukraine, officials said. “Given the sensitivities to …

Russian, Belarusian tennis players barred from Wimbledon
2 years, 8 months ago

Russian, Belarusian tennis players barred from Wimbledon

Al Jazeera  

Wimbledon has not banned athletes from countries since after World War II, when it barred players from Germany and Japan. Among the prominent players affected by the ban are reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who recently reached number one in the Association of Tennis Professionals rankings; men’s number-eight-ranked Andrey Rublev; Aryna Sabalenka, who was a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2021 …

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk slams global response to Russian invasion of her homeland
2 years, 9 months ago

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk slams global response to Russian invasion of her homeland

Firstpost  

Kostyuk, who defeated Ukrainian-born Belgian Marina Zanevska in the first round of the Indian Wells WTA Masters, admitted that she thought about not taking the court at all over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Indian Wells, United States: Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk lashed out Thursday at the tennis world’s response to the Russian invasion of her homeland, saying anti-war platitudes weren’t …

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk Slams Tennis Response to Russian Invasion
2 years, 9 months ago

Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk Slams Tennis Response to Russian Invasion

News 18  

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk lashed out Thursday at the tennis world’s response to the Russian invasion of her homeland, saying anti-war platitudes weren’t enough for a country plunged into turmoil and fear. Our parents are going to be okay.” But Kostyuk isn’t alright with the measures taken by global tennis authorities in response to the war. But Russian and Belarusian tennis …

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